Prep football: Folsom knocks off Jesuit to advance to section final against Rocklin
You could see the excitement and relief on every Folsom High School player and coach on the sideline when the clock hit zero in Carmichael.
Players stormed the field and hugged anyone they could find. Coaches did the same on the sideline. The Bulldogs showed grit and poise in a 22-21 win over No. 2 Jesuit in front of a packed house Saturday afternoon in a Sac-Joaquin Section Division l semifinal.
After the celebration and jubilation that comes with an emotional win, a scary moment occurred on the Folsom sideline after the game was over. Senior Lucas Wolfe had trouble breathing on the Folsom bench and was transported to a hospital. The Folsom team had a prayer circle while he was being tended to.
The moment overshadowed a thrilling Bulldogs comeback. Folsom quarterback Tyler Tremain hit Walker Lyons for a 15-yard touchdown, to make it a one-point game with with 1:32 remaining.
“I knew I had to make a play,” Tremain said. “I wasn’t going down without a fight. I saw Walker in the back of the end zone and I just let it go.”
Folsom coach Paul Doherty faced a choice: Kick the extra point and play for overtime or go for the 2-point conversion and the win.
He chose the latter.
“We went back and forth (on whether to go for two),” Doherty said. “We had so much momentum. The defense played lights-out. We have really good players on the offensive side of the ball.”
One of those really good offensive players is Toure Hendrick. After a knee injury saw him miss the end of the spring football season and start of the season this fall, he has come on to become Folsom’s workhorse running back. Hendrick dove into the end zone on his back to convert the 2-point conversion, which gave the third-seeded Bulldogs a one-point lead.
“That play was super slow motion,” Hendrick said on the 2-point conversion. “I knew I had to get into the end zone. I turned on that second gear to get the win for the team.”
Tremain was able to kneel it out after Austin McMillan forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that was recovered by Lyons.
In his second game back from a non-throwing shoulder injury, Tremain looked like himself. He finished with 160 yards, including 45 to Rico Flores Jr. and 35 to Lyons. Hendrick finished with 92 yards rushing, including a 37-yard touchdown burst down the sideline in the first half.
Folsom’s defense and special teams play was equally as impressive. McMillan recovered a fumble on a muffed punt snap for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the day.
“Special team play is so important,” McMillan said. “Our defense showed an intense amount of pride. That’s the heart we always played with.”
Jesuit led 21-14 with 4:31 left after Reed Daywyler found tight end Kai Wallin for a 29-yard touchdown. Marauders running back Kai Santos finished with 47 yards and had touchdown runs of 2 and 25 yards. Garrett McGriff rushed for 87 yards. Jesuit ended the season 10-2.
The Bulldogs’ season is very much alive. They will get their rematch with top-seeded Rocklin on Friday night at Sacramento City College for the Division l section championship. The Thunder beat Folsom 40-7 earlier in the season without Tremain at quarterback.